Vacuum hair cutting device



N 1967 s. s. MENDOZA VACUUM HAIR CUTTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1966 N N 5 R M 0 m & m v a .m L M u f Nov. 21, 1967 s. s. MENDOZA 3,353,265

VACUUM HAIR CUTTING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '4 1 UIIIIIIIIIII I I I me m f /05 SALVADOR S. MENDOZA IN VE N 70/? WfM United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a device for cutting hair which incorporates means creating a vacuum to draw hair against a cutting member, and which subsequently carries the freshly cut hair away for disposal. Intake and discharge openings define and provide an air path through the head. A razor blade is mounted in the head of the mechanism adjacent to the intake opening obliquely to the air path. The cutting head includes blade mounts within the head at opposite sides of the intake opening, and a series of notches selectively accommodate ends of the razor blade to permit angular disposition of the blade with respect to the air stream and its spacing from the intake opening.

' The present invention relates to a device for cutting hair and more particularly to such a device which utilizes a vacuum to draw hair against a cutting member and which subsequently carries the freshly cut hair away for disposal.

' In barbering, a new technique of cutting hair has been developed which is being increasingly used, particularly in the expanding business of mens hair styling. This is the technique of employing a straight razor blade to cut hair. There are a number of advantages to this technique as compared with the utilization of conventional hair clippers or scissors. First, it enables the barber to shave off small quantities of hair in a combining motion while the hair is in the style desired. Thus, the barber can shape the hair style precisely as desired without having to guess at the extent of hair to remove. This is usually impossible with conventional hair clippers since the hair is disarranged during cutting making it impossible continuously to observe the results of the cutting in relation to the overall hair style. With conventional hair clippers or scissors, the barber must rely solely on his experience of where and how much hair to cut in creating a hair style. Second, the razor can be employed by the barber to thin out the hair when necessary without having to resort to the use of special clippers. Third, the razor is obviously an easy to handle and inexpensive tool which requires no repairs or adjustments, other than sharpening, as compared with the attention required by conventional hair clippers.

However, prior to the present invention there have been a number of disadvantages to the use of this razor trimming technique. Perhaps the most obvious disadvantage is that the barber must be careful that he does not cut himself or the customer. Since he must be more careful than with clippers, the straight razor is somewhat slower to use. Furthermore, it is difiicult to cut off relatively large quantities of hair in a few cuts because there is nothing which traps or draws hair toward the blade for cutting as in conventional clippers. Consequently, many barbers use both a hair clipper and a razor in cutting hair or use just the hair clippers and scissors in order to accelerate the hair cutting operations.

There is another problem present in all barbering which hasnot been entirely satisfactorily solved. This is the problem of efficiently disposing of the freshly cut hair. Ordinarily, most of the newly cut hair falls to the floor making an unsightly, as well as unsanitary pile of hair, which must continually be collected and removed. Even more objectionable, some of the freshly cut hair usually falls on the person whose hair is being cut collecting on his clothing, falling down the neck of his shirt, or remaining in his hair. Consequently, the barber usually must either vacuum or brush away as much of the cut hair as he can. Effective removal is difficult and as a consequence cut hair frequently remains as an unsightly irritant.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hair cutting device.

Another object is to provide a hair cutting razor blade that is safe to employ.

Another object is to provide such a hair cutting device which utilizes a vacuum to draw hair against a razor blade.

Another object is to provide such a device which by utilizing a stream of air moving over a razor blade can cut hair in any direction.

Another object is to provide such a hair cutting device which is easily manipulatable and suitable for continual use.

Another object is to provide a hair cutting device which carries the freshly cut hair away for effective disposal.

Another object is to provide such a hair cutting device which can be used selectively to cut large or small quantities of hair with each cutting motion.

A further object is to provide such a hair cutting device which is of relatively simple uncomplicated construction requiring little or no adjustment or repair.

Another object is to provide such an improved hair cutting device having a stationary replaceable razor blade therein which can be positioned in the most advantageous cutting angle in the device, and which device possesses all of the advantages of cutting hair with a straight razor.

Another object is to provide a second form of such a hair cutting device which employs a rotary razor blade.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes set forth which is fully effective in achieving its intended purposes.

These, together with other objects and advantages of the present invention, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description in the specification and accompanying drawings.

' In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the principles of the present invention shown being used to cut hair.

' FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the cutting head and hose of the device of the present invention showing a housing cover thereof in 1 dashed lines in pivotally retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat further enlarged horizontal section of the cutting head of the device of the present invention taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 and with a razor blade thereof removed for illustrative convenience.

' FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary transverse 7 vertical section of the cutting head taken on line 44 v moved therefrom.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cutting head and coupling nipple of a second form of the invention with the hose removed therefrom and showing a mounting door in dashed lines in an open position.

v FIG. 9 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary horizontal l section of the cutting head and coupling nipple of the sec- 3 L ondformof'the invention taken on line 99 of FIG. 8 showing a rotary cutting wheel disposed therein.

FIG. 10 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section of the cutting head and coupling nipple of the second form of the invention taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9 showing the rotary cutting wheel in cross section.

FIG. 11 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the cutting head of the second form of theinvention taken on line -1111 of FIG. 9 showing a razor blade locked in position by a spring clip.

First form Referring in greateriparticularity'to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, a first form of the vacuum hair cutting device of the present invention is generallyindicated bythe numeral 10. The device includes an electrically powered vacuum producing unit 11 which can be mounted in 'any'convenient position, such as on a barber chair or on a counter adjacent to the barber chair. The vacuum producing unit provides an electric motor 12 which has an electric cord 13 by which the motor can be operably connected to a source of power, not shown. A fan unit 14 is driven by the electric motor. A hair collection bag 15 which is-constructed of a rather porous material is attached' in receiving relation to the fan unit, as shown in FIG. 1.

A rubber or plastic hose of any suitable length, havinga head end 21 and an opposite discharge end 22, is operably connected at its discharge endto the fan unit 14. A plurality. of annular rings 23 are provided integral with and throughout the entire lengthof the hose, as shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 4. The rings serve to prevent the hose from collapsing. A substantially cylindrical coupling nipple-24 having end 25 is connected to the head end of the hose with the end 25 protruding a short distance therefrom.-.The end preferably hasan annular groove 26 circumferentially thereabout.

The-device 10 provides a substantially rectangular cutting'rhead 32, constructed of metal or sturdy plastic, which is releasably connected to the end 25 of the coupling nipple 24, as will subsequently be described. The cutting head has a base plate 33 having a bottom wall 34 and opposite ends 35. An integral peripheral wall 36 is provided about the bottom wall and extends a short distance upwardly therefrom and normal thereto,-as shown best in FIG. 7. A circular mounting hole 42 is centrally positioned in the bottom walL-A pivot mount 43 is integrally provided centrally of one of the opposite ends of the base plate. A snap lat-ch 44 is integrally located centrally of the'other'of the opposite ends of the base plate. The base plate and thus the cutting head is mounted on the end 25 of the'coupling nipple 24 with the end extending into the mounting hole 42and' with the portion ofthe bottom wall which describes the mountinghole fitted'into and completely filling the annular groove 26. Thus, the mounting heads is. fully rotatable about the coupling nipple through the plane of the annular-groove Furthermore, the cutting head maybe removed from or remounted on the coupling'nipple simplyby respectively pulling it from or forcing it into the positionas described above and as best shown inFIG. 4.

The cutting -head.32 also provides a-ho'usingcover 45 of unitary construction. The housing cover has a flat front Wall 46, a pair of parallel end walls 47, and a top wall 48 which'arcuately curves to form aback wall 49. The base plateand'the housing 'cover'define a-chamber50 of the cutting head; An arcuately curved pivot cam 55 is located on one of the end walls. A male detent 56 is provided on the other of the end walls. The pivot-cam and male detent are best shown in FIG. 5. The housing cover is pivotally mountedonthe base plate 33 with the pivot cam received in the pivot .mount 43. The housing coveris secured from pivotal movement by the male detent being received in the snap latch 44:

Ahair receiving opening 57 is provided in the front wall 46 of the housing cover 45. Integral projections or fingers 58 are provided on the front wall which extend partially across the hair receiving opening toward the base plate 33 in the same plane as the front wall. The fingers form a comb 59. A pair of blade mounts 65 are individually affixed to the bottom wall 34 in the interior 50 of the cutting head 32 in the corners formed by each of the end walls 47 and the front wall of the housing cover, as best shown in FIG. 7. Each of the blade mounts has several adjustment notches 66 therein, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. A pair of blade rests 67 are individually affixed to thetop wall 48 and individually to opposite end walls of the housing cover so that they extend into the interior of the cutting head at a slight angle toward.

the hair receiving opening, as shown best in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

A razor blade 68, having a cutting .edge 69 and an upper end 70, and of a length slightly shorter than that of the cutting head 32, is removably mounted in the interior 50 of the cutting head. The razor blade is mounted with the cutting edge resting in corresponding adjustment notches 66 of the blade mounts 65 and with the upper end resting against the blade rests 67. With the housing.

cover 45 firmly held in place by the snap latch 44, the razor blade is immovably locked in position in the interior of the cutting head with the cutting edge held in the adjustment notches by'the pressure of the top wall 48 and blade rests against the upper end of the razor blade, as shown-in'FIGS. 4 and 6.

Second form FIGS. 8 through 11. The cutting head 75 provides a blade housing 76 of unitary construction. The blade housing has a flat top Wall 77, and a parallel fiat bottom wall 78. A pair of opposite end'walls 79 are provided by the blade housing'and arcuately curve towards each other to form a back wall 80. The blade housing, also has a flat front wall 81 which extends between and normal to the end walls. The top wall, bottom wall, end walls,

back wall,.and front wall define achamber 82. The end walls, front wall, andbottom wall have abutment edges 83. A downwardly-and forwardly exending blade mounting opening 84 isdescribed by the abutmentedges.

A-pair of blade guides 85 are individually provided on each of the end walls 79 within the interior 82 of the cutting head 75 and are extended from the top Wall 77 to the blade mounting opening 84 a predetermined relatively short distance from the front wall 81. Corresponding lock holes '86 are individually providedinthe end walls of the blade housing so that they communicate with the space between the front wall and the blade guides a predetermined distance from the top wall. The back Wall 80 has a centrally positioned mounting hole having a diameter equal to the mounting hole 42 of the cutting head 32v of the first form of the invention. The cutting head 75 is pivotally mounted on the coupling nipple 24 of the hose 20 as in thefirst form of the invention and as best shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. A.-piv0t 91 is mounted adjacent to the abutmentof the'bottom wall 78; as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

A door 92 is pivotally mounted on the blade housing 76 in the blade mounting opening 84 by being fastened to the pivot'91, as bestshown inFIGS. 8 and 10. The door has a bottom wall 93 which has'parallel side walls 94 normal to it. A comb 95, having fingers 96, similar to comb 59 of the first'form of the invention is provided between and normal to the side Walls a predetermined distance from the bottom wall of the door. The comb,

'side walls, and bottom wall of'the door define a hair wall have upwardly and rearwardly facing contacting edges 101 which rest against the abutment edges 83 of the front wall 81, end walls 79, and bottom wall 78 respectively of the blade housing and in substantially the same planes therewith when the door is in the closed position shown in FIG. 10.

A pair of integral male detents 102 are individually provided in corresponding positions on side walls 94 of the door 92 adjacent to and extending slightly outwardly from their contacting edges. A pair of tensioned snap fasteners 103 are integrally provided individually on each end wall 79 of the blade housing 76 in alignment with their respective male detents so that when the door is in the closed position as shown best in FIG. 11, each snap fastener extends over its respective male detent thus retaining the door in position. A pair of tension spring clips 104 are individually mounted at one of their ends exteri-orly of the blade housing on each of the end walls thereof by rivets 105 and individually extend across the lock holes 86. Each of the spring clips has a slightly bent end 106 opposite to that which is mounted on its respective end wall. Each of the spring clips also has a projection 107 near its bent end which is slidably received in the lock hole of its respective end wall and which extends a predetermined relatively short distance into the chamber 82 of the cutting head 75 between its respective adjacent blade guide 85 and the front wall 81.

A razor blade 115 of a slightly shorter length than that of the front wall 81 of the blade housing 76 and having opposite cutting edges 116 and notches 117 at each end, is releasably mounted between the front Wall and the blade guides 85 by the projections 107 extending into each of its notches. A pair of bearings 118, having upper halves 119 and lower halves 120, are individually mounted in predetermined positions in the interior 82 of the cutting head 75 with an upper half on each end wall 79 of the blade housing adjacent its respective abutment edge 83 and the lower half on its respective side wall 94 of the door 92 adjacent to its contacting edge 101. When the door is in the closed position, the upper and lower halves of each bearing contact each other to form cylindrical bearings, as best shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8. When the door is in the closed position, the bearings define an axis which is parallel to, and a predetermined distance from, the front wall of the blade housing.

A shaft 125 is rotatably mounted in the bearings 118. A rotary cutting wheel 126 is mounted on the shaft for rotation. The cutting wheel has a bearing tube 127 having an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft and a length slightly shorter than the distance between the two bearings. It is the bearing tube which is rotatably received about the shaft thereby rotatably mounting the cutting wheel. Four cutting blades 128, which are arcuately curved in cross section in the direction of intended rotation of the cutting wheel and which have distally positioned cutting edges 129, are mounted, as by welding, longitudinally of and on the bearing tube approximately 90 apart about the periphery thereof, as best shown in FIG. 10. The cutting blades are of the same length as the bearing tube and have widths of sufficient distance so that the cutting edges 129 thereof pass quite closely to the lower cutting edge 116 of the razor blade 115 when the cutting wheel is rotated about the shaft.

Operation The operations of the described embodiments of the subject invention are substantially the same and attention is first invited to the operation of the first form.

The vacuum hair cutting device is designed either for use in a barber shop or private home primarily to cut hair, but also to be used as a blower to dry hair. When used to cut hair, the vacuum hair cutting device is made operable by plugging the electric cord 13 into a suitable source of electrical energy. Thus, air is drawn through the hair receiving opening 57, the interior 50 of the cutting head 32, the coupling nipple 24, the hose 20, through the fan unit 14, and finally is forced into the hair collection bag 15 through which the air is dispersed. Consequently, a low pressure area or partial vacuum is created within the cutting head of the device. The cutting head is subsequently drawn with a combing motion over the head 135, of a person whose hair 136 is to be cut, in any direction as determined by his hair style. The partial vacuum created in the interior of the cutting head draws the hair through the hair receiving opening as the comb 59 guides the hair evenly therethrough. Consequently, as the cutting head is moved along, the hair is cut by the edge 69 of the razor blade 68. This freshly cut hair then travels through the hose and into the hair collection bag where the hair is retained as the air is exhausted through the porous material of the bag. The hair collection bag can be removed from the fan unit at any time and the hair conveniently disposed. The amount of hair cut is determined by how close the cutting head is held to thepersons head. In other words, the closer the hair receiving opening 57 is held to the persons head, the longer the length of hair that is drawn into the cutting head and consequently the longer the length of hair that is cut. However, this is true only to the extent that the hair receiving opening is not entirely obstructed. If complete obstruction occurs, the flow of air through the device is disrupted and thus it does not function properly.

In order to replace or reposition the razor blade 68, the operator need only unsnap the housing cover 45 from its locked position with the snap latch 44 of the base plate 33 and pivot it back to disclose the interior 50 of the cutting head 32, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. The razor blade can then be replaced with a new razor blade, if the old one is worn out, or readjusted to a more advantageous cutting position with respect to the hair receiving opening 57 with its cutting edge 69 in any of the desired adjustment notches 66 of the blade mounts 65. In order to lock the razor blade in position, the operator merely holds the upper end 70 of the razor blade with his finger with the razor blade positioned in the desired adjustment notches. As he swings the housing cover to the closed position, he leans the upper edge of the razor blade against the blade rests 67. After removing his finger, the housing cover can be again locked in position with the male detent 56 received in the snap latch and thus the razor blade also is locked in position.

The hair cutting device 10 may also be used as a blower to dry hair. In order to do this the hair collection bag 15 is removed from the fan unit 14. The razor blade 68, however, need not be removed from the cutting head 32. With the electric cord 13 plugged in as described, the electric motor is reversed to force air upwardly out of the fan unit as viewed in FIG. 1. The air isthus forced out of the fan unit, through the hose 20, the coupling nipple 24, the chamber 50 of the cutting head, and subsequently out of the hair receiving opening 57. The cutting head is then held adjacent to the hair 76 which is to be dried ]and is manipulated in the conventional manner to dry the air.

Cleaning of the cutting head 32 of the hair cutting device 10 is a simple operation. Either the cutting head can be opened as described and a brush used to clean residue from the chamber 50, or the cutting head can be pulled free from the coupling nipple 24 and su-bmersed in a sterilizing solution for as long as is necessary to provide proper sterilization.

As previously discussed, the second form of the invention dilfers from the first only in the design of the cutting head 75. Consequently, the second form of the invention is easily converted for use as a hair dryer and the cutting head can be cleaned in precisely the same manner as the first form of the invention.

When the vacuum hair cutting device of the second 7 former the invention is operated, air is'drawn through the hair receiving opening 100 and the chamber 82 ofthe cutting head 75, through the coupling nipple 24, the hose 20, through the fan unit 14, and finally is forced into the hair collection bag Since the pathof air moving through the interior of the cutting head is oblique to the cutting wheel 126, the cutting wheel is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction at a relatively rapid .speed, as viewed in FIG. 10. The cutting edges 129 of the cutting blades 128 are thus drawn rapidly" past the-lower cutting edge 116 of the razor blade 115.

The cutting head 75 is, then, drawn over the head 135 of the person whose hair 136 is to be cut-in precisely the same manner as the first form of theinvention. The hair is similarly drawn through the hair receiving opening 100 between the fingers 96 of the comb 95 and inwardly past the lower cutting edge 1160f the razor blade 115. The hair is, then, severed either by the downward movement of the cutting head causing the lower cuttingv edge of the razor-blade to cut the hair, or by the cutting edges 129 of the cutting wh'eel 126 slicing through the hair. Anadvantage of this form of the invention is that the the cutting head need not be moved to cut hair since the cutting wheel'can cut hair when the cutting head is stationary. However, as before, the hair receiving opening cannot be positioned tightly against the head since this cuts off the flow of air. Without proper air movement throughthe head, no hair is drawn in and the cutting wheel does not turn.

In order to gain access to the interior 82 of the cutting head 75 forreplacement of the razor blade 115 or the cutting wheel'126, the door 92 is merely pivoted about its pivot 91 awayfrom the snap fasteners 103. Thus, the blade mounting opening 84' is exposed. The razor blade can-be removed by positioning the cutting head'so that the pivot is facing downwardly'and'the door is open. The bent ends 106 of the spring clips 104-are then pulled away from the end walls 79-so that their projections 107 are drawn out of their respectivenotches 117 of the razorblade. Consequently, the razor blade falls by gravity from the interior of the cutting head through the blade mounting opening. A new razor blade can'bemounted by invetting the cutting head, pulling the bend ends of-the spring clips-away from their respective end 'walls, sliding anew razor blade into place between the front wall 81 and the blade guides 85, and finallyreleasing the spring clips so that their projections are seated in their'respective notches of the new-razor blade. Thus, the-new razor blade is held firmly in position;

When the'door 92 is pivoted away to expose the blade mounting opening 84'the lower half 120 'of'each bearing 118, being mounted on the door, of course is separated from its respective upper half 119 of its bearing. The cutting wheel 126 and shaft 125, then, can easily be' pulled from the interior-82 of the cutting head 75. Thus, anew cutting wheel or a cutting wheel which has had .itscut ting edges 129 'resharpened can be rotatably receivedon Thus, the hair cutting device 10 of both forms of the present inventioncan be used .in a barber shop. or a private home to cut hair with all of the :previously described advantages of cutting hairwith a. straight razor.

However, the operator experiences none of-the described disadvantages of using a straight razor. Furthermore, the

freshly cut hair is automatically collected for convenient",

disposal thus maintaining proper sanitary conditions.

Although the invention has been herein shown and" described in What are conceived. to bethe'most prac tical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full. scope of the claim so as toembrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim. as. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A hair cutting device comprising a cutting head hav-- ing an intake opening and a discharge opening defining an air path through the head, a razor blade mounted in the head adjacent to the opening obliquely to said air path, means for applying a vacuum to the discharge,

opening of the'head whereby hair may be drawn in wardly of the intake opening along said path of airand severed by movement of the head in a direction bring-.-

ing the blade into severing engagement with such hair,

said cutting head including blade mounts within said.

head at opposite sides of the intake opening, each'pro-v viding a series of notches selectively accommodating .opposite ends of the razor blade whereby the angulardisposition of the blade with respect 'to the air-stream and its spacing from the intake'opening can be selectively adjusted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 512,009 1/1894 Chaney 30133 1,002,196 8/ 19 1 1 Campbell 30'30 1,375,597 4/1921 Leibowitz 30133 1,730,889 10/1929 Hoberecht 30133j 2,323,046 6/1943 Jenkins 30-433.. 2,610,393 9/1952 Hammond 3030 3,041,726 7/ 1962 Hitson 30-201- WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 

